Thursday, April 07, 2011

Day 30

My hopes and dreams for the future, or something like that. Well, I guess now would be a good time to tell you that after years of toying with the idea, I am taking this year (or, next year or SO, I should say) to get certified with DONA as a professional doula. It's something I've considered doing ever since Eli's birth, but until just recently I've felt that my own kids/fertility issues/pregnancies were enough baby stuff for one woman to handle!

I'm definitely ready for a hiatus from my own personal baby-making adventures for the time being, though, so I feel I could now be free to concentrate on others. And after being present at both my sister and my friend's births recently, it was really confirmed to me that the whole pregnancy/birth/baby thing is a topic for which I can summon endless enthusiasm and interest. I've never felt that way about anything else. I also had a good talk with one of Jess's midwives, who told me that she thought I was a natural doula, and that she felt one day I could even be a midwife or a childbirth educator.

While the idea of actually being the one responsible for delivering the baby still scares me profoundly, I think I could DO it. Birth fascinates me and doesn't disgust me in the least, and I think for the most part I stay pretty calm when I'm at a birth. And I would absolutely, unequivocally love to teach birthing classes someday; it's something I've felt our area is sadly lacking in anyways.

So, that's that. Totally ready to get started on the doula path, and open to more someday, if that seems to be where the path is leading! I still haven't purchased the DONA kit, because once you do you're on the clock to get finished. Since a big part of the training is a (long) weekend workshop, I want to wait until I know Jameson can be without me for two or three days before I go. You're allowed to bring nursing infants with you up to six months old, but even if he were still young enough, he is an active and vocal baby, and I'd feel bad about inflicting him on everyone else trying to listen! So I think I'll be waiting until November, when there's a workshop scheduled at a really cool birth/breastfeeding resource center in Ann Arbor. Once I confirm that in stone (i.e. drop a deposit) I'll go ahead and buy the DONA kit, and get started on my reading list and on trying to find a breastfeeding class around here to attend.

I'm so excited, I won't lie about that. It's certainly not a highly lucrative or glamorous career path, here, that of birth junkie, but it's something for which I feel a lot of passion, and I was starting to think I might never find that niche. That maybe I just didn't HAVE passion for anything useful, or possible. (Like, I totally have passion for drinking red wine and getting in long winded religious/ethical/sociological debates in the wee hours of the morning, but that's not really something anyone gets paid to do, as far as I know.)

14 comments:

bananafana said...

Oh I think you'd be so awesome at that! I've always thought that would be one of the most rewarding jobs no matter how glamorous you think it may or may not be. If there's ever a time when someone needs support and calm I would think that would be it and what a gift to be able to provide that for someone else!

Hillary said...

Good for you. I've thought about it myself and have a friend and coworker who is about to do her first solo birth. It's a wonderful thing. Good luck.

Lisa @ Lisa Moves said...

Excellent! The world needs more women supporting women and birth choices.

Anonymous said...

That is amazingly awesome! I think you'd be perfect for it. Good luck!!

Swistle said...

Neat!

Tess said...

Oh, I think you sound GREAT for that! Yay! So exciting to be pursuing a career you're interested in.

d e v a n said...

VERY cool! How exciting!

Jana said...

Good for you! It sounds like the perfect job for you!

Marie Green said...

So, do you know that I'm a birth doula (certified through DONA) AND a child birth educator? I mean, I feel like EVERYONE knows that, but since I rarely blog about it, probably my online peeps aren't always aware.

So! We should definitely email! I've been a certified doula for about 7 years and have been to lots of births. I've also taught child birth classes for 7 year. Email me about ANYTHING! Being on call! Rates! Questions! Time commitment! WHATEVER! I love to talk birth/doula stuff!

(lifeinatinytown@gmail.com)

Yay for another doula!

(Sorry about all the exclamation points; I'm EXCITED!)

Saly said...

You would be a great doula! I can't wait to hear more about it.

I would really love to be a midwife or doula too!

B said...

That sounds awesome! Best of luck!

Mommy Daisy said...

That is really neat. I would definitely think about hiring you for my next birth (nothing in the works yet...still hoping) certified or not. I know that I will need that outside support.

I've always been intrigued more by the breastfeeding aspect of birth/newborns. It probably stems from my issues with breastfeeding, but I learned to much. I know what I would do differently next time, and I love being able to help new mothers learn to breastfeed properly and offer advice. Problem is I'm not sure this is something I could pursue professionally without getting a degree in nursing (which I don't think I want to do). But maybe someday I'll find some way I can get into something like this.

Nik-Nak said...

Wow, that sounds like a great niche to have.
So rewarding and uplifting. Keep us posted!!

Kelsey said...

After reading some of your posts about your own birth experiences and births you've attended I think it sounds like a perfect choice for you! I really admire you for finding a goal you believe in and putting yourself on a path toward it.